Two-goal Trevor Sinclair kept alive West Ham United's survival hopes as they secured a priceless success against relegation rivals West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.
Sinclair struck once in each half and should really have helped himself to a hat-trick as he hit the bar when faced with an open goal.
But the Hammers really owed their timely win to the second-half heroics of England keeper David James who pulled off a series of stunning saves to deny Lee Hughes and Scott Dobie.
West Brom hauled themselves back on to level terms when Danny Dichio struck at the start of the second half with his first goal in seven games and his seventh of the season.
But the Baggies again showed their defensive frailties to present Sinclair with his match-winner that keeps West Ham's survival hopes alive.
For Albion though they are now facing an immediate return to Nationwide Division One after collecting just 12 points from their last 23 games.
West Brom were frustrated by the woodwork themselves after seven minutes when a Jason Koumas free kick was headed against the foot of the post by Darren Moore before being hacked to safety by Glen Johnson.
Albion were then left fuming after 24 minutes when a 'goal' for Nigerian international Ifeanyi Udeze was disallowed for offside.
It proved to be a turning point with West Ham coming alive after their second lucky let-off and they should have taken control of affairs when Sinclair missed an open goal.
Michael Carrick fired in a low, hopeful drive from 25 yards that goalkeeper Russell Hoult spilled.
The loose ball fell straight to Sinclair just eight yards from goal and with Hoult hopelessly out of position.
But Sinclair hammered his shot into the ground and then looked on in shock as it bounced behind the goal off the top of the bar.
The miss looked set to haunt Sinclair and prove costly for the visitors but the England international made amends by firing the Upton Park side into the lead when converting a far more difficult chance in first-half stoppage time.
When Sinclair collected a cross from Steve Lomas just outside the six-yard box, he had his back to goal and was being challenged by Moore.
But he managed to turn the imposing Albion central defender and lash an angled volley past Hoult.
But any hopes that West Ham had of building on their one-goal advantage were dashed just six minutes into the second half when Dichio took full advantage of another Koumas cross.
He rose above a crowded penalty area to powerfully head past James and set up a spell of intense Albion pressure.
Just 60 seconds after Dichio struck, James came to West Ham's rescue with a stunning save to deny Hughes before Dichio had a second 'goal' disallowed for offside.
Albion's inability to gain further reward from their best spell of the game proved to be costly as Sinclair fired West Ham back in front after 66 minutes.
But the visitors were gifted the goal after a poor clearance from Hoult.
Steve Lomas lifted a cross into the area and Les Ferdinand cannoned a header against the bar before Sinclair bundled home the rebound.
West Ham's advantage would have proved to be short-lived if it had not been for more heroics form James who somehow pushed a shot from Hughes around the post after a misplaced header by Sinclair.
James further frustrated Albion after 75 minutes when he beat away a shot from substitute Dobie just seconds after the Scottish international had come on before denying Hughes for a third time.